Golf club head cover



y 1964 F. H. BELLEVUE, SR

GOLF CLUB HEAD COVER Filed Feb. 28, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Francis H. Bel/evue, 8r.

m m. 1 H

May 19, 1 4 F. H. BELLEVUE, sR

GOLF CLUB HEAD COVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 28, 1963 Francis H Bel/ewe, 5r.

INVENTOR. mm BY W United States Patent 3,133,577 GOLF CLUB HEAD COVER Francis H. Beilevue, Sn, 2 Rosedale Ave, Everett, Mass,

assignor of one-fourth interest to Francis H. Bellevue, In, Everett, Mass.

Filed Feb. 28, 1363, Ser. No. 261,607 2 Claims. (Cl. 150-52) The present invention relates to a readily applicable and removable head cover for the head and shaft-connecting hosel of a conventional-type golf club and has to do with a cover which is unique in that it is outstandingly distinct in design and appearance and, unlike presently used flimsy and collapsible head covers, is substantially rigid and consequently has a constant given shape.

Golf club head covers which are available on the market and are popularly in use are of many and varied styles, forms and materials. Popularly used sock-like covers are commonly or customarily made of leather, imitation leather or a similar material but are also made to provide a pocket or pouch portion for the club head, a mouth like skirt for ready application and removal and with a skirt and pouch joined in many instances by a knitted wide elastic webbing or waist. Other types in this category are made of knitted yarn, tackle twill, and various grades and kinds of cloth all with the idea of protecting the finish and surface areas of club heads. Assuming the cover is in position, for example, on the club head, the normal way of removing the same is to place the covered head in the users hand and with the hand suitably cupped, to squeeze the cover off with the thumb and forefinger. Difiiculty in removing the cover is often experienced when either or both the club head and head cover are damp or Wet from rain. Also after the cover has been removed the limp shape or form causes it to collapse into a shapeless object, making it difficult to thereafter cover the club head when the club is readied to be put back in the golf bag.

It is an object of the instant invention to devise and provide a head cover which is made of an appropriate acceptably usable material which is shape-sustaining, that is, possessed of the inherent properties needed to give the cover a constant acceptable shape but which is neverthe less easily applied and removed. To the ends desired the herein disclosed head cover is angular in edge elevation, that is, characterized by an outer head pocketing pouch and a sleeve aligned communicatively with the entrance to the pouch, said sleeve being disposed at an obtuse angle and being thus fittingly adapted to encase the heel and hosel portions of the head.

It is common practice to imprint, emboss, sew or otherwise provide the name of the owner of the clubs on the head cover. In carrying out the present invention the leading end of the head encasing pouch is provided with a forwardly extending flap which while usable as a finger pull if desired, is preferably employed here as a place for name plate, label or surface on which the name may be imprinted, sewn or otherwise applied.

It is also common practice to apply club indicating numbers such as l, 2, 3 and 4 or alternatively l, 3, 4, 5, etc. on a selected area of the head covers. In the instant handling of this aspect of the overall matter and instead of attaching the numbers at the factory, so to speak, a prominent surface on the head cover is provided with a patch-pocket or an equivalent receiver having a transparent Wall. With this pocket construction the individual numbers can be made separately and applied by the golf pro from whom the clubs, ordinarly, are purchased.

The invention also features a head cover of the character so far set forth and which is regarded as a contribution to the art and an innovation in that the open mouth portion of the neck part of the cover has a specially placed and delineated cutout which provides a month which assists in piloting the club head into the neck and which in addition provides gusset-like fingergripping tabs which greatly assist in bringing the club head and cover into cooperable relationship.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numer'als refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation showing the head cover and the manner in which it is constructed and applied for use;

FIGURE 2 is a view of the same at right angles thereto and which is conveniently referred to as an edge elevational view;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view taken on the plane of the line 33 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the indicating arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a section on the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged view in perspective showing the pouch portion but which is primarily intended to illustrate the transparent-type patch-pocket for reception and retention of the manually applicable club marking number or numeral; and

FIGURE 6 is a view looking at the entrance mouth of the neck of the cover and showing it spread to open position to facilitate applying the cover or, conversely, inserting the head through the mouth and into the neck for pur-. poses of fitting the head into the protective confines of the cover.

It is evident that the golf club is a conventional-type. However, conventional portions thereof will be referred to here in order to orient the coacting component parts of the cover therewith.

The shank portion of the shaft of the club is denoted by the numeral 8 and is fitted into the socket portion of the usual hosel 10 which is joined by a heel portion 12 to the head proper denoted generally at 14. The forward tip or toe of the club is denoted at 16, the face at 18 the usual convex top side or surface at 20 and the trailing marginal edge portion at 22 (FIG. 6, for example). The sole or bottom side of the club is denoted generally at 24. The entire head 14 including the hosel 10 is protectively pocketed within the confines of the pouch and neck portions 26 and 28, respectively, of the cover. The cover may be molded from appropriate moldable material of an appropriate character in keeping with the requirements of the manufacturer. It may also be made from leather or a similar composition of materials in the so-called i leather category or from any appropriate and colorful and desirable material having the shape-sustaining properties necessary or desired. The pouch portion 26 is generally conformable to the shape and size of the head 14 which is removably fitable therein. By the same token the neck portion is of an appropriate length and cross-see tion to permit the club head to pass therethrough either in or out and with the neck assuming the position illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings. By employing an appropriately bent or angled junctional connection between the pouch and neck these two component parts are disposed in approximate obtuse angular relationship. Considering the pouch 26 and neck 28 as defining the cover, the top or upwardly facing lengthwise Wall is denoted generally by the numeral 30, the front end wall at 32 and the bottom wall 34, these walls 30, 32 and 34 being joined by lengthwise side walls denoted each by the numeral 36 (FIG. 2). By integrating or joining these several walls the pouch and neck are accordingly provided and joined with each other. The wall 34 is substantially planar and is sometimes referred to as flat not taking into account, of

a course, the angular relationship between the pouch 26 and neck 28. One purpose in providing this planar wall 34 is to be able to utilize the portion 38 thereof to accommodatingly mount the number containing and displaying pocket 40. This pocket comprises a patch-pockettype wherein the patch comprises a transparent sheet or wall 42 having its several margins suitably bound and stitched in place at 44 and with the mouth 46 of the pocket ready to permit a club indicating number 48 (FIG. to be used. Assuming that the number is 1 this part is denoted by the numeral 50 here and it is provided with a suitable gummed or adhesive surface and a removable ply 52 therefor. By removing the ply 52 the gummed surface is exposed and the number is then stuck in place in the manner illustrated and so that it is shielded by the window 42 but is nevertheless viewable therethroug'n.

In addition to the substantially L-shaped or obotuse angular shape of the cover characterized by its pouch 26 and neck 28 components and the number containing pocket it will be noted that an outstanding flange-like flap 54 is provided, the same embodying suitable plies stitched or otherwise connected together as at 56 and also defining a surface 58 for display of the owners name thereon. The name can be embossed, sewn or otherwise applied, for example, by a nameplate, tag or the like. The site 58 is somewhat in a plane with the portion 38 of the so-called bottom wall of the overall cover, that is the wall 34.

A highly significant feature of the overall invention is predicated on the open mouth portion of the neck which is denoted generally by the numeral 60. To accomplish this a substantially semi-circular or an equivalent cutout in the terminal end portion of the wall 30 is provided at 60 and this shortens the length of one side of the neck. In fact this cutout provides an appropriate clearance notch 64 which facilitates applying and removing the cover in the manner brought out, for example, in FIG. 6. This cutout also permits the end portions 66 of the side walls 36 to define and act as fingergripping pulls or tabs which can be used in the manner shown in FIGURE 6.

It will be obvious that the head cover is designed and constructed so that the shape thereof remains constant whether in use or not thus enabling the cover to be applied and removed with ease.

The members will come separate, not attached to the head cover. They can be applied by removing the backing from the pressure sensitive surface. The number will then be inserted under the clear plastic window for protection. To adhere the number to the head cover all one has to do is to slide it under the window and press it firmly in place.

It is believed that a careful consideration of the spec ification in conjunction with the figures of the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear and comprehensive understanding of the construction, features and advantages and the manner of applying and removing the cover. Therefore, a more extended description is regarded as unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A cover for a golf club head comprising a pouch closed at the forward end and along its sides and open at an opposite rearward end for reception of the head of the club, said forward end being provided with a forwardly projecting flap designed and adapted to accommodatingly receive and display the owners name, the wall constituting the bottom of said pouch being substantially fiat and provided exteriorly with a transparent patchpocket for protective reception and retention of an insertable club designating number, and an open-ended neck aligned with and communicatively connected to the open end of said pouch and also having at least one fiatwise wall, and having a mouth portion, walls adjacent said mouth portion being cut away to provide a clearance notch opposed to the fiat wall and also a pair of individually grippable finger-pulls which facilitate in applying the cover.

2. A golf club head-cover comprising an elongated jacket having a head enclosing pouch at an outer end, and a sleeve-like hosel and shaft enclosing portion at its inner end, said pouch and sleeve portions being disposed in obtuse angular relationship when viewed in edge elevation, said head enclosing pouch having a forwardly outwardly projecting flap providing a fingergrip, said flap being of a size and shape that it is adapted to carry and display a name-plate, said jacket being made from shape-sustaining crushproof material whereby it has a normal shape and is capable of maintaining said shape, or substantially so, whether on or off the club head, said jacket having a generally planar bottom side designed lengthwise and crosswise in a manner generally parallel to the hosel of said club head, having a top side opposed to the bottom side and functioning to cover the top and toe portions of the club head, andalso having opposed relatively narrow sides joining the top and bottom and designed and adapted to cover the ball striking face of said head and the rearward trailing portion of said head, a readily viewable surface of said cover being provided with a marginally attached transparent patch providing an open-mouth pocket for ready insertion, reception, and display of an applicable number, for example, the number 1 indicative of a driver, the number 2 denoting a brassie, and so on, said pouch portion and sleeve portion being approximately the same in transverse cross-section, having their cooperating ends joined by an angular bend, and said sleeve portion having a neck provided with a cutout defining a headclearance notch, the free terminal ends of the sides adjacent the respective ends of said cutout providing fingergripping tabs which when properly gripped and manipulated expedite fitting the club head in the jacket with said head pocketed in said pouch portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,924,547 Garfinkel Aug. 29, 1933 2,110,122 Burgett Mar. 8, 1938 2,526,985 Whitehead Oct. 24, 1950 2,779,374 Clark Jan. 29, 1957 3,078,897 Rifkin Feb. 26, 1963 

1. A COVER FOR A GOLF CLUB HEAD COMPRISING A POUCH CLOSED AT THE FORWARD END AND ALONG ITS SIDES AND OPEN AT AN OPPOSITE REARWARD END FOR RECEPTION OF THE HEAD OF THE CLUB, SAID FORWARD END BEING PROVIDED WITH A FORWARDLY PROJECTING FLAP DESIGNED AND ADAPTED TO ACCOMMODATINGLY RECEIVE AND DISPLAY THE OWNER''S NAME, THE WALL CONSTITUTING THE BOTTOM OF SAID POUCH BEING SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT AND PROVIDED EXTERIORLY WITH A TRANSPARENT PATCHPOCKET FOR PROTECTIVE RECEPTION AND RETENTION OF AN INSERTABLE CLUB DESIGNATING NUMBER, AND AN OPEN-ENDED NECK ALIGNED WITH AND COMMUNICATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE OPEN END OF SAID POUCH AND ALSO HAVING AT LEAST ONE FLATWISE WALL, AND HAVING A MOUTH PORTION, WALLS ADJACENT SAID MOUTH PORTION BEING CUT AWAY TO PROVIDE A CLEARANCE NOTCH OPPOSED TO THE FLAT WALL AND ALSO A PAIR OF INDIVIDUALLY GRIPPABLE FINGER-PULLS WHICH FACILITATE IN APPLYING THE COVER. 